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Is It Safe For Baby To Sleep In A Swing? Not Exactly

by Autumn Jones

I don't know about you, but I fall asleep as soon as I lay down in a gently swaying hammock. There's just something so relaxing about that back and forth motion that my eyelids get heavy only thinking about it. And it's not just me — the swinging motion is so hypnotic, that baby swings have been used for years to help transform crying, fussy babies into calm and drowsy versions of themselves. But even though these products can be a miracle worker for some parents, is it safe for baby to sleep in a swing?

Sometimes, too much of a good thing can go turn bad. Using the swing to help your baby become sleepy is OK, but leaving her in their to snooze is not safe. According to the American Association of Pediatric's (AAP) website, Healthy Children, if your baby falls asleep in a swing, move her to a crib or bassinet as soon as possible. This suggestion coincides with the AAP's recommendations for SIDS reduction, stating that all babies should be put to sleep on their back, on a firm sleep surface. As the website Safe To Sleep from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development reported, "the single most effective action that parents and caregivers can take to lower a baby's risk of SIDS is to place the baby to sleep on his or her back for naps and at night."

In addition to transferring your bambino from a swing to a crib once she's shut her eyes, there are some other safety guidelines for swing use. According to Baby Center, babies shouldn't stay in a swing more than one hour a day. Being in just one position for too long can halt the development of motor skill development needed for crawling, pulling up, and walking. Even though that rocking rhythm is super soothing, overusing the swing is not best for baby.

Don't worry if a baby swing is like a magic sleeping elixir for your little one, as long as you are vigilant about time usage and strict on the no sleeping in the swing rule, you'll be doing your best to protect your little one while still helping her get some shut eye.